Āditya ṛṣiḥ. Ādityo devaḥ. Ādityo dhātā purastād yathedaṁ jagad asti. Ādityaḥ paśupatiḥ viśasaḥ sadṛśī. Ā dityā ṛtumān paśyan. Athopahvayaśva.
“The Ṛṣi is Āditya; Āditya is the Deity; Āditya is the supporter, as this universe exists; Āditya is the Lord of creatures, and the protector; O Āditya, observing the season, come and call.”
Structure
Ādityaḥ ṛṣiḥ Ādityo devaḥ Ādityo dhātā purastāt yathā idam jagat asti Ādityaḥ paśu-patiḥ viśasaḥ sadṛśī Ā dityā ṛtumān paśyan atha upahvayaśva
Ādityaḥ (Āditya) ṛṣiḥ (seer) / Ādityo (Āditya) devaḥ (deity) / Ādityo (Āditya) dhātā (creator) purastāt (from the east) / yathā (as) idam (this) jagat (universe) asti (exists) / Ādityaḥ (Āditya) paśu-patiḥ (lord of creatures) viśasaḥ (of the universe) sadṛśī (similar to) / Ā dityā (Hail, Āditya) ṛtumān (seasonal) paśyan (seeing) / atha (then) upahvayaśva (call)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ādityaḥ | Ādityaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Āditya (the sun god) |
| ṛṣiḥ | ṛṣiḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | sage |
| Ādityo | Ādityo | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Āditya (the sun god) |
| devaḥ | devaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | god |
| Ādityo | Ādityo | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Āditya (the sun god) |
| dhātā | dhātā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | the sustainer |
| purastāt | purastāt | indeclinable | — | from the east |
| yathā | yathā | indeclinable | — | as |
| idam | idam | pronoun | accusative · singular · neuter | this |
| jagat | jagat | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | world |
| asti | asti | verb | √as · laṭ-present · third | is |
| Ādityaḥ | Ādityaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Āditya (the sun god) |
| paśu-patiḥ | paśu-patiḥ | compound | bahuvrīhi · "paśupaḥ iti patiḥ" | lord of creatures |
| viśasaḥ | viśasaḥ | noun | genitive · plural · masculine | of the tribes |
| sadṛśī | sadṛśī | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | resembling |
| Ā | Ā | indeclinable | — | towards |
| dityā | dityā | noun | vocative · plural · masculine | Ādityas |
| ṛtumān | ṛtumān | adjective | — | possessing order |
| paśyan | paśyan | verb | √paś · laṭ-present · third | behold |
| atha | atha | indeclinable | — | then |
| upahvayaśva | upahvayaśva | verb | √hū · liṅ-optative · second | call upon |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Ṛgveda signifies the non-dual nature of reality, where Āditya, the sun, represents the ultimate reality, Brahman. According to Śaṅkarācārya, the reference to Āditya as ṛṣi, deva, and dhātā underscores the all-encompassing and supportive nature of Brahman. The identity of Āditya with the Lord of creatures (paśupatiḥ) and the protector (viśasaḥ sadṛśī) points to the unified consciousness that pervades all existence. Śaṅkarācārya's commentary on the Taittirīya Upaniṣad, where he explains the mahāvākya 'Satyam Jñānam Anantam Brahman', resonates with this verse, as it Too emphasizes the ultimate reality as the truth, consciousness, and infinite. Thus, this verse supports the Advaita doctrine of brahman-ātman identity, encouraging the seeker to realize the non-dual essence within.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava interpretation of this verse focuses on the loving relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya would likely view Āditya as a symbol of Viṣṇu, the supreme deity, who is both the ruler and protector of all beings. The phrase 'Ādityaḥ paśupatiḥ' reinforces the idea of Viṣṇu's sovereignty over all creatures. The invitation to Āditya to 'come and call' (atha upahvayaśva) can be seen as a call to the devotee to surrender to the Lord's will, illustrating the prapatti concept in Viśiṣṭādvaita. Madhvācārya, on the other hand, might emphasize the distinction between the Lord and the jīva, highlighting Āditya's role as an intermediary between the individual self and the supreme Viṣṇu.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a powerful symbol for the universal and practical application of Vedāntic principles. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the 'Universal Religion', often emphasized the importance of recognizing the divine in all aspects of life. The Āditya verse illustrates this idea, where the sun, a universal symbol, represents the ultimate reality that sustains and governs the world. S. Radhakrishnan, in his work 'The Hindu View of Life', highlights the significance of the Ṛgvedic concept of ṛta, or the cosmic order, which is reflected in the phrase 'Ā dityā ṛtumān paśyan'. This verse encourages the individual to cultivate a deeper awareness of the interconnectedness of all existence and to live in harmony with the natural world, reflecting the modern Vedāntic emphasis on the practical application of spiritual principles in everyday life.